Communications network for dynamic reprioritization

Abstract

A communications network comprising at least one source unit is configured to generate messages for relay to a portal node through at least one smart node. The smart node includes a dynamic reprioritization controller capable of dynamically reprioritizing the relayed messages prior to relay transmission by a transmitter according to received programming instructions.

1. A communications network, comprising:
 at least one source unit configured to generate messages for relay; 
 a smart node capable of storing programming instructions, receiving messages for relay from said source unit, determining at least a merit value for said received messages, dynamically reprioritizing the received messages for relay based upon said merit value, and transmitting the reprioritized received messages; and 
 at least one portal node adapted to receive said reprioritized received messages transmitted from said smart node. 
 
   
   
     2. The communications network as specified in  claim 1 , wherein said smart node comprises an electronic computer for executing said programming instructions. 
   
   
     3. The communications network of  claim 1 , wherein said programming instructions comprise active messages. 
   
   
     4. A communications network, comprising:
 at least one source unit configured to generate messages for relay; 
 a smart node capable of receiving programming instructions, storing said programming instructions, receiving messages for relay from said source unit, storing the received messages for relay in a queue, determining at least a merit value for said received messages, and dynamically reprioritizing the received messages for relay in said queue based upon said merit value; 
 at least one portal node adapted to receive said retransmitted received messages from said at least one smart node for relay; and 
 at least one communications node adapted to send said programming instructions to said smart node. 
 
   
   
     5. The communications network of  claim 4 , wherein said smart node comprises:
 a message storage queue; 
 a transmitter; 
 a receiver; 
 a queue controller for writing messages received at said smart node into said message storage queue and for removing messages from said message storage queue for relay transmission by said transmitter; and 
 a dynamic reprioritization controller for specifying an order of transmission of said removed messages for relay transmission by said transmitter. 
 
   
   
     6. The communications network of  claim 5 , including at least one receiver for receiving said messages for relay from said source unit. 
   
   
     7. The communications network of  claim 2 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically. 
   
   
     8. The communications network of  claim 4 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically. 
   
   
     9. A method for dynamic reprioritizing messages, comprising:
 receiving messages from a source unit; 
 storing said received messages in a buffer unit; 
 determining a merit value for said received messages; 
 reprioritizing said received messages based upon said merit value; and 
 transmitting the reprioritized received messages. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said received messages are stored in a queue. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein a smart node reprioritizes said received messages. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said smart node transmits said reprioritized received messages. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said smart node receives programmable instructions from a communication node.